"Should I send my lawyers? Eff off" - Martina Navratilova hits back at accusations of taking steroids

Martina Navratilova recently responded with anger to an accusation that she was using steroids when she was a professional player.

Navratilova was accused by a social media user of taking controlled substances amid the discourse about the tennis legend's opposition to including transgender athletes in women’s sports. Navratilova recently slammed the USTA for allowing a trans woman to compete at a senior tennis event, claiming that trans women have an unfair advantage over biological women.

A Twitter user agreed with Navratilova's views but also accused her of using steroids to get a physical edge over her competitors back in the day. The allegations outraged the 66-year-old, who threatened legal action and ferociously stated that she had never touched such substances in her life.

"Should I send my lawyers your way? Never touched the stuff, now eff off," Navratilova tweeted.

Martina Navratilova had earlier criticized the USTA for allowing Alicia Rowley, a "self-identified" female, to compete and win the women's tennis competition in the 55 & over category at the USTA National Women's Grass Court Championships.

Navratilova argued that women's tennis is not for men who failed to compete against their own sex. She also questioned if this kind of qualification would be allowed at bigger tournaments like the US Open.

"Come on @USTA - women’s tennis is not for failed male athletes- whatever age. This is not right and it is not fair. Would this be allowed at the US Open this month? Just with self ID? I don’t think so. …" Navratilova tweeted.

Martina Navratilova praises World Aquatics for creating an "open category" for transgender athletes

Martina Navratilova

Martina Navratilova has been at the forefront of opposing the inclusion of trans athletes in women's sports, a hot-button issue in the sporting world. The 18-time Grand Slam champion recently praised World Aquatics, swimming's global governing body, for creating an 'open category' for transgender swimmers.

Husain Al-Musallam, the president of World Aquatics, stated that the events with open category would take place in the near future, and reports suggest that we could see the change as soon as this year. Al-Musallam also said that plans for the first trial of the open category are underway.

"This is a very complex topic. But I am delighted to tell you today that we are now making plans for the first trial of an open category, and we hope to be able to confirm all the details soon. Our sport must be open to everybody," Al-Musallam said at the World Aquatics Congress.

Martina Navratilova took to Twitter to applaud the decision. Swimming, in particular, has been at the center of debate regarding the presence of trans people in women's sports. This has been the case ever since Lia Thomas became the first transgender woman to win a national swimming title during the 2021-22 NCAA season.